Store co-owner Marvin Torme said although many customers did not know Tibbs' name, they were concerned about him fol­lowing the shooting. Torme said he didn't find out until the week of May 31 that Tibbs was coming back to work.

"He's been with me a long time," Torme said. "Its a pleasure to have him back."

Tibbs said he considers himself lucky to still be alive.

He had just gotten out of his vehicle when the gunmen con­fronted him and the others.

Tibbs said he initially thought the robbers were just some kids playing a prank, but the seriousness of the situation soon became clear to him when one of the men pointed a gun at him.

Tibbs said only one of the gunmen actually did the shootings. The other watched over himself and a co-worker from the meat department.

Tibbs said it was that gunman that shot him through his left leg. The bullet went through the lower portion of the leg, then struck his right knee, chipping a bone. "I didn't feel it when he shot me," Tibbs said. "I don't know why. Some people say your adrenaline is high and you don't feel the pain."

Tibbs remembers hearing the gunman shoot Smith, who had fought back, only to be shot again.

The shooter then fled the store, followed by the second robber.

The men did not get any money from the safe and left with just $10 taken from his co-worker's billfold.

Tibbs said he had lost a lot of blood by the time paramedics arrived. Having met one of the paramedics some time later, Tibbs said the medic told him "I thought you were a goner."

Tibbs was taken to UAB Hospital for treatment and underwent surgery, and needed three units of blood.

"He was lucky," said his wife, Gloria. "I could have been a widow."

The gunmen remain at large, but the store and Smith's son have offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the their arrest and conviction.

After the successful surgery, Tibbs said he underwent rehabilitation at Spain Rehabilitation Center and later at Therapy South.

He said being confined to a wheelchair and walker were not to his liking.

"It's been aggravating seeing so much you want to do, like yard work," he said. "I couldn't do anything."

Even with nerve damage still remaining in his left big toe, Tibbs said he didn't want to stay at home.

He began walking again late last month and decided it was time to get back to work.

"When you sit in the living room and watch TV, you see all the programs about four times in two weeks," Tibbs said.

"He's glad to be able to get back to work and walk around on two feet," Gloria said. "He's been looking forward to being back for a long time."